Antibiotic resistance plans need attention

Agcarm and the New Zealand Veterinary Association are trying to push things along, he told Rural News.  Although there is no international pressure as such, they want to be proactive because what is happening overseas is a big part of the need for a management strategy on resistance, Ross says. 

“Hopefully we will organise a workshop later in the year, about October, on antimicrobial resistance, to update people where things are at,” he says. “We are talking but we would like the Government to take it seriously and be more proactive.”

Agcarm and the NZVA have been promoting a partnership between industry and government to manage and oversee AMR. A dedicated governance group to address AMR issues in New Zealand was proposed late last year to the AMR steering group, run by MPI, of regulators and industry associations with an interest in AMR. Agcarm is now trying to push for the governance group to get underway, Ross says. 

There was unanimous support for the initiative from the steering group. The priorities for the governance group will be to coordinate research and surveillance of AMR. Results will help identify where and when resistance is most likely to occur and steps which should be taken. 

Dr Karl Dawson, chief scientific officer of animal health and nutrition company Alltech told a recent US symposium attended by Rural News that the era is over when the livestock industry can use antimicrobials or antibiotics. They will still be used at times for health issues but indiscriminate use will come to an end in the US in the next two-three years.